By Daily Sports Nigeria on July 23, 2024

Andy Murray has confirmed he will retire from tennis after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 37-year-old is planning to play in the singles and doubles at what will be his fifth Games.

"Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament," Murray wrote on X.

"Competing for Team GB has been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I'm extremely proud to get to do it one final time!"

The Scot's first Games appearance was in Beijing in 2008, when he lost in straight sets to Lu Yen-hsun in the first round.

Four years later, Murray swiftly put the disappointment of a Wimbledon final defeat by Roger Federer behind him, defeating the Swiss in straight sets at London 2012 to win gold.

The Briton became the first male tennis player to win two Olympic singles titles when he beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro at Rio 2016.

The three-time Grand Slam winner had career-saving hip surgery in January 2019.

Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, played competitively at SW19 for one last time earlier this month when he was knocked out of the doubles in the first round alongside his brother Jamie.

A back injury had threatened Murray's participation at Wimbledon and he left it until the final moment before pulling out of the singles. He had hoped to play mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu, but she pulled out of that planned pairing because of a wrist injury concern.

Speaking after his defeat at Wimbledon, Murray said: "It is hard because I want to keep playing, but I can't.

"Physically it's too tough now. I want to play forever. I love the sport."

The Scot said earlier this year that he was "not planning to play much beyond the summer" but hoped to compete in Paris.

Dan Evans, the British number three, will partner Murray in the doubles.

The opening rounds of the tennis in Paris begin at Roland Garros on 27 July and the event concludes on 4 August, with medal rounds being played from 2 August.

Knowing when to stop is a skill in itself for a professional athlete.

Murray himself told us earlier this year that there is no perfect ending.

But going out at an Olympics feels as fitting as it could be for the only male tennis player to win two singles gold medals.

Murray places his Games experiences - Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 - at the very top of his career.

Not just because of the medals. But also because of the atmosphere around the Village, meeting athletes from across the world who he would not usually encounter on the ATP Tour, swapping anecdotes and exchanging Olympic pin badges.

The perfect ending for Murray would be winning another gold in Paris.

You would not think that is likely based on the 37-year-old's recent fitness and form. But would you also rule anything out from him?

Murray is a man whose storied career has been built around incredible talent, perseverance and a will to win that is almost unrivalled.

Everything will be left on the clay courts of Roland Garros, no doubt, before post-playing life starts with an already-booked family holiday.

Source BBC Sports

Posted July 23, 2024

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